10 Athletes The World Should Watch At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London

Few events attract the eyes of the entire world like the Summer Olympics. Beginning next Friday, July 27, every moment of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London will be shown live on NBC’s family of networks and its website. For those counting at home, that’s some 5,535 hours of coverage. Over 17 exciting days, familiar sports icons like LeBron James and Usain Bolt will be heard time and again. But for every Michael Phelps and Serena Williams, there are literally hundreds of other athletes around the globe with amazing talents and fascinating stories to share. Here are 10 largely unknown Olympic athletes we’ll be keeping up with over the spirited weeks ahead in London, as well as a guide to the best times to see them each in action.

Cassidy Krug (United States, Diving)

There are actually a couple of cool stories in the U.S. waters this year –The Dumais Family will be sending two or three representatives to the London- but this one about Krug, a talented young lady making a splash in the same sport as both parents once did, is something straight out of a Hallmark Channel movie. Best Time to Watch Her: August 9, 12AM (Eastern), Telemundo.

Some are debating whether Pistorius’ inclusion in the Games is fair or not. The only thing we’re wondering is where the man’s story ranks among sports’ most inspiring. Oz, as he’s affectionately called, is a double amputee. His participation isn’t simply heartwarming; it’s darn right historic. Best Time to Watch Him: August 10, 8PM, NBC.

We don’t know a lot about field hockey, but we do know the seven goals Rampal scored in the 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup at just 15 were crazy impressive. Now a wrinkly old 17, the super quick stick is ready to smash even more international marks. Best Time to Watch Her: July 29, 8:30AM, NBCOlympics.com.

When you turn 71, we bet you won’t be participating in the Summer Games. But guess who is? Hoketsu, the 2012 Olympics’ oldest athlete, has won numerous honors on a horse. Merely qualifying here, while most his age contemplate their next nap, might be most impressive feat yet. Best Time to Watch Him: August 2, 4PM, MSNBC.

Carol Huynh (Canada, Wrestling)

Huynh’s message during competition is “Courage and Confidence,” words she’s lived her whole life by. The freestyle wrestler’s parents are Vietnam immigrants who moved to the little town of New Hazelton, British Columbia. She won Canada’s first women’s gold medal in the sport in ’08. With courage and confidence in spades, she aims to repeat. Best Time to Watch Her: August 8, 4:15PM, MSNBC.

Yekaterina Gamova (Russia, Volleyball)

Tina Charles and Brittney Griner are impressive physical specimens on the basketball court, but even they have to acknowledge that this 6′ 8″ net assassin is a site to behold. We’d watch her matches just to see how towering she could smash the ball. Best Time to Watch Her: August 5, 4:15PM, NBC Sports Network.

Andy Murray (Great Britain, Tennis)

If Murray can parlay an emotional Wimbledon finals appearance into a long Olympics run, then that would be great for the sport. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be favorites, of course, but the world’s No. 4 has one advantage over the tennis trio—the roar of the home crowd. Best Time to Watch Him: August 2, 7AM, Bravo.

Teddy Riner (France, Judo)

Weren’t you just saying the other day how the sport of judo needed an outspoken, Jay-Z-listening, Akon-texting contender to take the world by storm? Well, here’s your guy. A bronze medalist in 2008, Riner will likely osotogari his way to gold this time. Best Time to Watch Him: August 3, 4:10PM, NBCOlympics.com.

Im Dong-Hyun (South Korea, Archery)

Though he has 20/200 vision, which is considered legally blind in most circles, Dong-Hyun doesn’t look for any special attention or wear any constructive eyewear on the range. All he wants is your respect and total quiet while he does his thing with the bow. Best Time to Watch Him: July 28, 5:45PM, NBC Sports Network.

Marta (Brazil, Soccer)- The only thing missing from the female Messi’s trophy case is Olympic gold. If the five-time World Football Player of the Year can work her magical feet against soccer powers like Germany and U.S.A., she should reach her goal. Best Time to Watch Her: August 6, 12PM, NBC Sports Network. –DeMarco Williams

(Editor’s Note: Though he rarely struts his copious sports knowledge here on GGT, our Senior Editor DeMarco Williams is a veteran sports journalist who has worked for ESPN and Slam Magazine and formerly ran the Bleacher Report website.)

Some interesting characters as well as athletes, so many amazing people will compete at the Olympics but also think 54 year old showjumper Nick Skelton deserves a mention. He will be competing after a miraculous but determined recovery from a near fatal accident.

Great to hear a little bit more about some of the more intriguing Olympians.

I heard on the commentary of the opening ceremony that the flag bearer for the UAE team was in fact a billionaire and member of the royal family!!! Believe he was a shooter.

I personally LOVE the athletes’ entrance part of the opening ceremony. Get a big kick out of seeing how happy and proud the athletes are. Thought it was great that so many women were bearing the flags for the nations – especially from the Islamic countries. What a world we live in!!!

Yeah, for me the stories about the athletes are almost more interesting than some of the events himself. I’ve interviewed Olympians like Michael Phelps, Cayman Islands runner Cydonie Mothersill, etc. and I always find their backstories fascinating.

Enjoyed reading this piece about the athletes. Some I had heard of, some I hadn’t. As a huge sports fan who writes a lot about sports and travel, I love the Olympics. There is so much more to these games than just medals and competitions. I love learning about people from other parts of the world and hearing their stories.

The Olympics are a fantastic event which does well beyond sports. I wish more of our every day world would encompass the spirit of the Olympics.

We feel so removed from the Olympics down here at the beach house. No TV, no radio, limited internet…but I had no idea that Russian volleyball player is 6’8″?! I used to play when I was younger and can not imagine going up against a woman that tall. I mean, game over, let’s go get some ice cream! I’ll definitely be checking out the Olympics VB news now 🙂 Great post!

Mary and I aren’t normally sports fans at all, but we’re both goofy for the Olympics. We’ve been recording EVERYTHING on our DVR, then frantically trying to catch up on what we missed (sometimes fast forwarding through to get the highlights). I like some of the less popular sports, like table tennis, water polo and badminton, but the volleyball is our favorite since my daughter’s been playing for 2 years now.

I think the only one I’d heard of before DeMarco’s post was Oscar Pistorius, who attracted controversy with his Olympic bid because some athletes felt his prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage. Luckily, DeMarco is our resident sports guru!